This teacher knows his market

Published 12:00 am, Monday, March 13, 2006

NEW FAIRFIELD - Marketing, says Tom Scherf ,is not just about business. It's the key to a lot of other things in life.

"Marketing can be applied to everything in life," said Scherf. "It teaches people to sell ideas no matter what field they go in."
Students and fellow educators are buying Scherf's ideas. The marketing teacher at
New Fairfield High School
will be honored today with a statewide award.
The 48-year-old Danbury man was named Marketing Educator of the Year by the
Connecticut Marketing Education Association
, an organization of teachers and business people.
Association Secretary
Carmela Calafiore
said the award is given to teachers who develop, operate and manage outstanding education programs.
"Mr. Scherf has made significant contributions towards developing and maintaining a progressive, high quality marketing program," said Calafiore.
Calafiore said Scherf helped a large number of students who went on to become marketing majors in college and pursued successful careers.
Scherf, who came to New Fairfield 19 years ago from Buffalo, N.Y., is the teacher and adviser in the high school's Distributive Education Clubs of America program.
The DECA program, established in 1946, is designed to provide students with additional marketing-related educational and career opportunities.
Scherf's state award will be presented to him at the Connecticut DECA Conference in Southington. More than 900 high school students are expected to attend.
Calafiore said Scherf's impact on the New Fairfield program made it one of the most successful in Connecticut.
Last year, New Fairfield High School's DECA program was recognized for its academic achievements at the National DECA Conference in Anaheim, Calif.
"It's all about students putting into action all that they've learned in the classroom," said Scherf. "It becomes a hands-on operation."
At New Fairfield High, students get hands-on experience running a student-run clothing and accessories store in the school lobby. Students in the DECA program also learn about marketing and sales by running an annual fashion show.
Scherf, who coached girls soccer at New Fairfield High for 17 years, lives in Danbury. His daughter, Tracy, is an elementary teacher in West Seneca, N.Y.
One of Scherf's students, 17-year-old
Bobby Jones
, described him as being one of the most dedicated teachers in his field.
"His life revolves around his work," said Jones. "Many teachers are not as committed. He's a teacher who really cares."